These Final Hours trailer
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Take a look at the apocalyptic thriller filmed in Western Australia, 'These Final Hours'.

news.com.au

19 Feb 2014

Entertainment

IT WAS during a 10-minute standing ovation for Australian movie These Final Hours at this year’s Cannes Film Festival that young Perth actor Jessica de Gouw knew she had chosen the right career path.

“To have gained such a response ... that’s why I’m an actress,’’ de Gouw says. “Cannes was amazing. We had no idea what to expect and how the film would be received.

“As soon as the credits ended and the lights came up it was an amazing feeling to have connected with an international audience.

“When we arrived for the first screening there were queues around the block. The amount of people who have already reached out to this film ... for the film to have moved so many people ... it’s pretty fulfilling to experience this.’’

These Final Hours, directed by Australian Zac Hilditch from his award-winning screenplay, follows the last day of self-obsessed James (Nathan Phillips) as he makes his way to the ultimate apocalyptic party as the end of the world draws near.

James’ first stop is to visit his secret lover Zoe, played by de Gouw, who is at a beach shack and wants a genuine connection before the apocalyptic fire ball hits Perth.

Zoe is expecting the couple’s baby and their meeting is revealed in flashback as James decides to leave Zoe to party with his other friends, including girlfriend Vicky (Queensland’s Kathryn Beck).

Nathan Phillips as James and Jess de Gouw as Zoe, These Final Hours — Photograph by David Dare Parker

On the way, James comes to the rescue of a young girl Rose (Angourie Rice), who has been kidnapped as ­society deteriorates intro chaos.

It is while helping Rose that James realises what is important to him — and his thoughts return to Zoe and ­redemption.

“Zoe is the emotional heart of the film, she is the driving force for Nathan’s character (James),’’ de Gouw says. “I instantly connected with her.’’

Phillips says Zoe is a mature, nurturing and mothering character and de Gouw always came to the set full of ideas for their pivotal scenes together.

“Jess is like a strong oak tree. She is beautiful with a good foundation and she is happy for people to shelter underneath her,’’ he says.

Twenty-six-year-old de Gouw hopes the low-budget movie, filmed in her hometown of Perth in late 2012, will appeal to fans — including Hunger Games fanatics — of the popular apocalyptic genre.

Jess de Gouw as Zoe, These Final Hours — Photograph by David Dare Parker

“This film is a twist on apocalyptic films, but it is also beautiful to look at,’’ says de Gouw, who adds, if the end of the world was nigh, she would like to party but also save time for family and friends during the planet’s final hours.

“It’s a human story about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Hopefully, this film also has a blockbuster appeal with action and adventure,’’ she says. “The film also poses a great question. It is like a ­magnifying glass showing you what is important to you.’’

De Gouw has always been keen to be part of Australian film and television but says she knew she had to develop an international profile ­before she could score leading roles at home. To that end, she headed overseas soon after graduating from Perth’s Curtin University, and was fortunate to land almost straight away the coveted role of The Huntress in American hit TV series Arrow, filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

“It’s a combination of being in the right place at the right time and ­having the right role being put in front of me,’’ she says. “I had to move away from Perth to chase the dream and chase employment.’’

Last year de Gouw scored the role of Dracula’s lover opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers for the big-budget international television series, Dracula, and admits she was initially daunted.

“Jonathan is a cutie,’’ de Gouw says. “Once I met Johnny I realised he’s a great guy, he’s obviously a very handsome man but he is also a lovely man and he took good care of me.

James (Nathan Phillips) and Rose (Angourie Rice) in a scene from film These Final Hours

“He told me not to be overwhelmed by the bigger picture but to be there in the present, to have a bit of fun and to be honest in scenes.’’

De Gouw is now in South Australia filming television series Deadline Gallipoli, which features local and international stars including Game of Thrones identity Charles Dance and Hugh Dancy.

“When I saw the announcements of who was involved I was so star struck, but they are amazing people to work with. We all love doing our jobs. We love telling great stories,’’ says de Gouw, who heads to London for her next job later this year.

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